Bending roll



June 2, 1953 Filed April 2, 1949 R. G. LE TOURNEAU BENDING ROLL 4 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.

INVENTOR: R G. LE7 ouRA/EAu AGENT June 2, 1953 R. ca. LE TOURNEAU BENDING ROLL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2 1949 INVENTOR:

R G. LETOURNL'AU .70. 15W AGEN%:

June 2, 1953 R. 6. LE TOURNEAU 2,540,525

BENDING ROLL Filed April 2, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet s INVEN TOR- P76. 3 R 6. L7Z uR-EAu vAGE June 1953 R. 6. LE TOURNEAU BENDING ROLL 4 Shets-Sheet 4 Filed April ,2, 1949 1/ q EQRBQQ INVENTOR R G. LETOURNEAU .10. 4; AGE/W Patented June 2, 1953 BENDING ROLL Robert G. Le Tourncau, Longview, Tex., assignor to R. G. Le Tourneau, Inc., Longview, Tex., a corporation of California Application April 2, 1949, Serial No. 85,127

17 Claims. 1

This invention relates to and it is an object to provide an improved machine tool for use in bending plates, rods, bars, etc.

Another object is to provide a bending roll with which it is possible to eliminate the customary straight initial and ending portion of the work to be bent and provide a continuous curved contour to the finished work.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bending roll in which one of the rolls is movable laterally of the'other rolls; the other rolls being fixed.

An additional object is to provide a bending roll of this type, the individual rolls of which are independently power rotated.

A still further object is to provide a bending roll in which each roll is powered by an independent electric motor; the movableor floating roll thus being capable of rotation even while moving laterally of the other rolls.

Another object is to provide a bending roll which contains a novel quick release device for removing work from the machine.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

Fig. 1 of the drawing is a front view of the complete machine installed in a factory floor.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the end of the machine containing the roll rotating motors.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the end of the machine containing the release mechanism for this top roll.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the three major positions of the top roll during operation.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, the end frame members and 2 are shown to be embedded in the factory floor 3. These end members are supported and spaced by struts 4. End member contains bearings into which the ends of rolls 5 and 6 are journalled. In a like manner end member 2 contains bearings which support rolls 5 and 6, but at this end extension shafts and 8 project beyond the bearing housing to be rotated by electric motor units 9. The top or floating roll II] is journalled at one end to a bearing housing H which is secured within hinge member l2 which is a part of pivot arm I3. At the other end of the machine, roll I is journalled at two spaced points in bearing housings l4 and I which are a part of pivot arm l6. Both pivot arms are eccentrically mounted to crank shaft I! which is turned by motor and reduction unit I8,

through gear case l9. This crank unit imparts a generally vertical movement to roll ID. A generally lateral movement is obtained by the action of crank shaft 20 turned by its motor and gear case also numbered l8 and Hi. This latter crank turns eccentrically mounted connecting rods 2| which are pivoted at each end of the machine to pivot arms l3 and Hi.

It will be seen that by the operation of. crankshaft the roll l0 has a generally vertical movement, and by the operation of crank shaft 20 this roll has a generally horizontal movement, therefore, by the operation of these two cranks in combination, practically any type motion desired is obtainable. This faculty will permit the top roll to iron out the customary straight initial or ending portion of the work piece as produced by certain conventional machines. It is to be understood that the design position of pivot arms I3 and D6 in relation to connecting rods 2| may be varied if a greater component of horizontal movement is desired. Thus in Fig. 2 the angle between arm l6 and rod 2| may be increased within the scope of my invention.

Other machines on the market generally fall in either of two classes: the pyramid type consists of three rolls arranged in a triangle with the top roll capable of vertical movement; and the pine roll in which two of the rolls are substantially vertically aligned and the other roll is adjustable in an angular direction from vertical. The advantage of the pyramid is its ability to roll heavier plates than the pinch roll, but its disadvantage is that it leaves a fiat spot at the start and finish of the plate being rolled. The pinch type leaves a flat spot on the leading edge of the plate, but none on the trailing edge, so by entering the plate from the rear a preformed edge may be obtained, and then by removing the work and turning it end for end a completely round cylinder may be produced. The instant invention represents a combination of the advantages of both machines plus the additional advantage of not having to remove the work from the machine prior to completion. This invention is embodied in a structure that differs from machines in either of the two classes.

In my invention the top roll is adjustable in several directions so that it can move to a position above one roll as (A) in Fig. 4, and act as a pinch roll to provide one curved edge, and then assume a central vertically adjustable position (B) for forming heavy plates and then move to the other roll (C) to give a curved surface to the other edge. These positions may be repeated since the rolls are all reversible and almost any type of smooth curve can be ironed out.

To facilitate operation of this machine tool, a remote control switch box 22 is pivoted to one corner of end member I by means of bent pipe 23 and fixed sleeve 24. The operator can thus view each side of the machine during operations and can have the machine under fingertip control at all times.

After the bending operation is completed, the work may be removed from the machine by the following manner:

Bearing housing I l is supported by and within the circular opening of hinge member l2, which circular opening has a tapered surface which matchingly engages tapered surface 25 of housing l I when in its normal position. The tapered surface 25 contains a circumferential groove 26 into which a stop plate 21 may be inserted. Bell crank 28 is attached to and moves plate 21 up against the pressure of holding spring 29. A vertical post 30 which is fixed relative to hinge member i2 contains the pin about which bell crank 28 pivots; the post also provides a hand grip to permit the operator to move bell crank 28 by a squeezing grip about both post 30 and crank 28. The operator can further utilize this grip toremove hinge member [2 from hearing housing II by an outward and downward pull which causes the hinge member to pivot about its attachment pin 3|. With hinge member I2 thus disconnected, any work which is contained on roll l can be easily slipped off this unsupported end. The purpose of the two spaced bearings l4 and [5, previously described, is to compensate for the moment of this long unsupported roll when the hinge member is removed.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviation from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent is desired:

1. A bending roll comprising nd frames spaced apart by rigid struts, bearings in the end frames supporting lower rolls which are rotatable in the bearings but otherwise fixed relative to the frame, an upper roll journalled in pivot arms located beyond each end frame, said pivot arms being connected at their lower ends to a crank, said crank supplying reciprocating motion to said pivot arms and said top roll, a connecting rod connecting a second crank with said pivot arms, said second crank supplying second reciprocating motion to the pivot arms and to the top roll, said second reciprocating motion being in a different direction than the first motion.

2. A bending roll comprising end frames, bearings in the end frames supporting lower rolls, an upper roll, pivot arms connected beyond the end frames to a crank at their lower end to receive substantially linear motion therefrom, and containing bearings at their upper ends to support the upper roll; a connecting rod connecting a second crank to said pivot arms to impart substantially linear motion thereto in a direction different from the first linear motion.

3. A bending roll comprising end frames, bearings in the end frames supporting lower rolls, an upper roll, pivot arms connected beyond the end frames to a crank at their lower end to receive substantially linear motion therefrom, and containing bearings at their upper ends to support the upper roll; a connectin rod connecting a second crank to said pivot arms to impart substantially linear motion thereto in a direction different from the first linear motion, said cranks being power operated.

4. A bending roll comprising end frames, bearings in the end frames supporting lower rolls, pivot arms connected beyond the end frames to a crank at their lower end to receive linear motion therefrom, and containing bearings at their upper ends to support the upper roll; a connecting rod connecting a second crank to said pivot arms to impart linear motion thereto in a direction different from the first linear motion. said rolls being power rotated by independent electric motor units.

5. A bending roll comprising end frames, bearings in the end frames supporting lower rolls, an upper roll, pivot arms connected beyond the end frames to a crank at their lower end to receive substantially linear motion therefrom, and containing bearings at their upper ends to support the upper roll; a connecting rod connecting a second crank to said pivot arms to impart substantially linear motion thereto in a direction different from the first linear motion, said cranks being power operated by independent electric motor units; said rolls being power rotated by independent electric motor units.

6. A bending roll comprising end frames, bearings in the end frames supporting lower rolls, an upper roll, crank means supported by said frames, pivot arms connected beyond the end frames to said crank means at their lower end, and containing bearings at their upper ends to support the upper roll, means associated with said pivot arms to restrict the angular movement thereof; one of said pivot arms being hinged at its upper end and that portion surrounding the bearing housing being readily removable to leave the adjacent end of the upper roll unsupported at that end.

'7. A bending roll comprising end frames, an

upper roll, lower rolls; bearings in the end frames supporting lower rolls, pivot arms connected beyond the end frames to crank means at their lower end, and containing bearings at their upper ends to support the upper roll, means associated with said pivot arms to restrict the angular movement thereof, and means for disconnecting one pivot arm from said upper roll; the other pivot arm containing two spaced bearings to permit the upper roll to be supported in a generally longitudinal position even when disconnected from said one pivot arm. 8. A bending roll comprising end frames, bearings in the end frames supporting lower rolls, an upper roll, pivot arms connected beyond the end frames to a crank at their lower end to receive substantially linear motion therefrom, and containing bearings at their upper ends to support the upper roll; a connecting rod connecting a second crank to said pivot arms to impart substantially linear motion thereto in a direction different from the first linear motion, said rolls being power rotated by independent electric motor units; means for disconnecting one of said pivot arms from said upper roll said other pivot arm containing two spaced hearings to counterbalance the unsupported end of the upper roll.

9. A bending roll comprising end frames, bearings in the end frames supporting lower rolls, crank means mounted on said frames, pivot arms connected beyond the end frames to said crank means at their lower end, and containing bearings at their upper ends to support the upper roll, means associated with said pivot arms to restrict the angular movement thereof; one of said pivot arms being hinged at its upper end and that portion surrounding the bearing housing being readily removable to leave the adjacent end of the upper roll unsupported at that end; means for said removal comprising a bell crank mounted on the hinged portion, a spring held latch normally engaging a grooved portion in the bearing housing of the roll, said bell crank operative to release the latch and thereby disconnect the hinged portion from the roll.

10. A bending roll comprising end frames, bearings in the end frames supporting lower rolls, crank means mounted on said frames, pivot arms connected beyond the end frames to said crank means at their lower end, and containing bearings at their upper ends to support the upper roll, means associated with said pivot arms to restrict the angular movement thereof; one of said pivot arms being hinged at its upper end and that portion surrounding the bearing housing being readily removable to leave the adjacent end of the upper roll unsupported at that end; means for said removal comprising a bell crank mounted on the hinged portion, a spring held latch normally engaging a grooved portion in the bearing housing of the roll, said bell crank operative to release the latch and thereby disconnect the hinged portion from the roll; a portion of the outer surface of bearing housing and the inner surface of the hinged portion containing matching tapers.

11. A bending roll comprising end frames, bearings in the end frames supporting lower rolls, crank means mounted on said frames, pivot arms connected beyond the end frames to said crank means at their lower end, and containing bearings at their upper ends to support the upper roll, means associated with said pivot arms to restrict the angular movement thereof; one of said pivot arms being hinged at its upper end and that portion surrounding the bearing housing being readily removable to leave the adjacent end of the upper roll unsupported at that end; means for said removal comprising a rigid handle mounted on the hinged portion, a bell crank pivoted on the handle, a spring held latch normally engaging a grooved portion in the bearing housing of the roll, said bell crank operative to release the latch to permit removal of the hinged portion from the bearing housing.

12. A bending roll comprising end frames, bearings in the end frames supporting lower rolls, pivot arms connected beyond the end frames to crank means at their lower end, and containing bearings at their upper ends to support the upper roll, means associated with said pivot arms to restrict the angular movement thereof; one of said pivot arms being hinged at its upper end and that portion surrounding the bearing housing being readily removable to leave the adjacent end of the upper roll unsupported at that end;

housing surrounding the upper roll, said bell crank responsive under a gripping pressure in conjunction with the rigid handle to overcome the resistance of the spring and raise said depending plate out of the groove to permit disengagement of the hinged portion and the bearing housing of the upper roll.

13. A bending roll comprising vertical end frames connected and spaced by rigid struts between their respective inner surfaces, lower rolls journalled in the end frames, an upper roll, pivot arms connected beyond the end frames to crank means at their lower ends and containing bearings at their upper ends to support the upper roll, connecting rods attached to the pivot arms, said pivot arms and said connecting rods being connected to and motivated by separate electric motor driven crank assemblies; said upper roll being supported at one end by a hinged section of one pivot arm and at the other end by spaced supports of the other pivot arm; each roll being rotated by an electric motor unit and each electric motor of the machine being controlled from a swivel mounted switch box attached to a stationary part of the machine.

14. A bending roll comprising end frames spaced apart, hearings in the end frames supporting a plurality of lower rolls rotatable in said bearings but otherwise fixed relative to the frames, a first crank shaft supported by said frames, pivot arms eccentrically connected to said shaft and extending generally vertically therefrom, an upper roll journalled between said pivot arms, a second crank shaft supported by said frames and laterally spaced from said first shaft, connecting rods eccentrically connected to the second shaft and extending diagonally to pivotally engage said pivot arms, whereby upon rotation of said shafts both vertical and horizontal motion is imparted to said upper roll.

15. A bending roll comprising end frames spaced apart by rigid struts, bearings in the end frames supporting front and rear lower rolls which are rotatable in the bearings but otherwise fixed relative to the frame, an upper roll, spaced pivot arms for supporting said upper roll parallel to the lower rolls, crank means supported by said end frames for imparting a substantially vertical component of motion to said arms, additional crank means associated with said first mentioned means for imparting a horizontal component of motion to said arms, and independent controls for each of said means whereby said upper roll is held parallel to the bottom rolls and at the same time may be moved up or down over either said front lower roll or said rear lower roll or over a point between said lower rolls.

16. A bending roll comprising, a frame, horizontally spaced lower rolls supported at their ends of said frame for rotation about fixed parallel axes, a rotatable upper roll, means for moving said upper roll in parallelism to said lower rolls in any direction normal to the axes of said lower rolls, comprising, two actuating means at each end of said upper roll each actuating means being supported by said frame and including reciprocable means angularly movable relative to said frame, the two reciprocable means at each end of said upper roll being pivotally connected and arranged to support and maintain said upper roll parallel to said lower rolls at all times.

17. A bending roll comprising, a frame, horizontally spaced lower rolls supported at their ends by said frame for rotation about fixed parallel axes, an upper roll, a pair of eccentrics rotatably mounted at each end of said frame, means at each end of said frame supported by the corresponding pair of eccentrics and rotatably supporting the corresponding end of said upper roll, and means connecting corresponding eccentrics of said pairs for rotation in unison, said firstnamed means being so constructed and arranged that rotation of one air of said connected eccentrics causes said upper roll to move substantially vertically and rotation of the other pair of con- 10 nected eccentrics causes said upper roll to move substantially horizontally while joint rotation of said connected pairs of eccentrics causes said upper roll to move in a direction which is a resultant of the individual movements imparted thereto by each of said connected pairs of eccentrics, all with said upper roll remaining parallel to said lower rolls at all times.

ROBERT G. LE. TOURNEAU.

References Cited in the file 01 this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date. Mills Aug. 13, 1867 Stansbury Aug. 25, 1868 Everson Oct. '7, 1879 Homer Oct. 11, 1892 Naegelen Dec. 29, 1908 Zimmer Nov. 7, 1922 Isenberg et al Dec. 16, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain of 1889 France Apr. 1, 1914 

